It’s Perfect Picture Books Friday, so here’s my selection:
Brief Thief
Written by Michaël Escoffier
Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo
Enchanted Lion Books
Translation copyright 2013, Illustration copyright 2009
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 2 and up
Themes/Topics: Doing the right thing, seeking permission, inner voice
Opening Line: This morning Leon enjoyed his breakfast.
Synopsis from Jacket flap: When Leon discovers that all the toilet paper is gone, he must find something else to use. He had no time to lose!
Spying something that looks just right, he goes for it and finished his business.
But what Leon hasn’t counted on is that he’ll begin to hear a little voice whose words will change just about everything.
Link to resources: Doing the Right Thing and Acting With Honesty. All the lesson plans I found were pretty heavy. After reading the book, you may want to talk about what do you do when there is no toilet paper! (This commercial will likely make parents laugh, but this guy finds himself with no toilet paper.)
Why I like this book: Brief Thief is funny. Throw in the beautiful look and feel of this book (thick pages) and it equals picture book magic to me.
It is possible to find random underpants.
Recently, Hubby and son spotted a pair of pink panties on a neighborhood trail.
Kiddo’s response: “Look Daddy somebody lost their underpants. They’ll be cold with no underpants.” No bathroom emergencies on this outing, so they left them — untouched.
My response after reading Brief Thief and loving the ending, “Well, there’s surely a logical explanation for the underpants.”
This New York Times review mentions this French book was originally published under the title of: “Neither Seen Nor Known.” I like the line about the book ending like a good legal thriller. You’ll have to read Brief Thief to find out.
To find more PPBF selections, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
Now that it’s December, I can call myself a WINNER:
I ended the month with 128 ideas written down. I have hopes for about 40 of those.
On Monday, I’ll be back with an entry into Susanna’s Holiday Contest.
Woot woot! 128 – you’re a star!
Read BRIEF THIEF at the library last week. I liked the ending too!
Now to just get ONE published Cathy! I love the feel of the heavy pages. It’s a really book.
I am intrigued. And a tad concerned about what I might read.
I think you’ll enjoy this one Mike. It’s just a little potty humor. 🙂
You are amazing…128 ideas?? I could not come up with that many in one year, let alone one month.
After reading about this both here and at Darshana’d blog, I am moving this book to the top of my to-read list. 🙂
Teresa, I would say I have a “book crush” on the book, because I swoon when I mention it. Loved it.
Fabulous! This would go well with my Royal Plumber story 😉 Have you read Underwear by Helaine Becker too?
Thanks for the suggestions. I need to share those with one my critique partners too.
You got me at the cover! Who can resist that… and underwear – all you have to do is mention “underwear” to a kindergartener and he’ll crack up laughing.
It does provide a fun dose of potty humor!
hahaha!!!! I am soooooo laughing! I happen to have a dog friend who has a thing for underwear! He has been through surgery a couple of times to have them removed from his digestive system. Underwear is evidently not digestible!!! I am going to find this book for sure! Thanks!!
Poor doggy friend! Ouch.
LOL. The cover alone had me smiling. Not sure I’d pick up random underwear, no matter how much I “needed” it. . . .but this looks super funny and I want to find a copy!
The art is wonderful. My son didn’t pick up the random underwear he saw in the neighborhood either.
What a wonderful find. Very funny idea for a book! The message is a great one with that “wee little voice” talking to Leon. Great message. Love the cover art!
Yes it’s a very clever way to present a message.
Wow, Stacy. ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY??? Amazing. Congratulations! And what a funny book!
We’ll have to see how the “ideas” turn out! It is a funny one.
128. Whoa. YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Great PPBF pick! 🙂
Loved the idea for this book. Reminds me of a book I bought for my nephews for Christmas and which gave me some ideas during PiBoldMo. It is called The really, really Horrible Kids Joke Book. 🙂 Whether those ideas come to anything remains to be seen.
Wow! you are PiBoldMo master! Congrats!
Congrats on a great PiBoIdMo. I beat my record from last year at 89. I hope to have a higher percentage of decent ms this year. Or maybe I can mash-up 2013 and 2013 to make some new ideas!
And underwear is ALWAYS funny!
Oh Stacy…I will have to get this book…Jeremy thinks that underpants is one of the funniest words in the dictionary.:)
Great review – and I loved Enzo’s underpants comment!
This is the book I told you about in a FB comment. Really very clever. It’s a beautiful book too.